Cabinet of Malaysia
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The Cabinet of Malaysia is the executive branch of Malaysia's government. Led by the Prime Minister, the cabinet is a council of ministers who are accountable collectively to the Parliament. According to the Article 43 of the Constitution, members of the Cabinet can only be selected from members of either houses of Parliament. Formally, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong appoints all Ministers on the advice of the Prime Minister.[1] The constitution is amended by repealing the Clause (8) of Article 43, enabling a person who is a member of State Legislative Assembly to continue to be one even when he or she is appointed as a minister or deputy minister in the cabinet. Ministers other than the Prime Minister shall hold office during the pleasure of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, unless the appointment of any Minister shall have been revoked by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the Prime Minister but any Minister may resign his office. In practice, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is obliged to follow the advice of the Prime Minister on the appointment and dismissal of ministers.
Cabinet appointments
Members of the Cabinet must be members of either house of Parliament. Most ministers are appointed from the lower house, the Dewan Rakyat, although a few are appointed from the upper house, the Dewan Negara. The Prime Minister must be a member of the Dewan Rakyat. Although Deputy Ministers and/or Parliamentary Secretaries may be appointed to each portfolio, they are not included in the Cabinet. The Cabinet meets weekly, every Wednesday.[2] After the position of Parliamentary Secretary was removed and partial live telecasts of Parliament proceedings began in 2008, Cabinet meetings were moved to Fridays whenever Parliament sat, so as to allow Ministers to personally answer questions during Question Time in Parliament.[3]
Cabinet composition
The composition of the Cabinet, and the number of portfolios depends mainly on the wishes of the Prime Minister at the time. However, the post of Finance Minister was considered so important as to be a necessity, and as a result was incorporated by the Minister of Finance (Incorporation) Act 1957 (Act 375).[4] The position of Deputy Prime Minister is one that exists by convention, and as a result a Prime Minister could theoretically form a Cabinet without a Deputy.[5]
Deputy ministers exist for each portfolio, although they are not considered members of the Cabinet. The position of Deputy Minister was created by constitutional amendment in 1960. The office of parliamentary secretary for each ministry exists but none were appointed after the 2008 Malaysian general election. Parliamentary secretaries were provided for by an amendment in 1963. Deputy ministers and parliamentary secretaries are also appointed from members of Parliament, and deputise for the ministers in government ministries and in Parliament respectively. An additional office, that of the Political Secretary, exists. Political Secretaries need not be members of Parliament. Before taking office, all members of the Cabinet, Deputy Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, and Political Secretaries take an oath of secrecy concerning the proceedings of the Cabinet. (See also Official Secrets Act (Malaysia).)[5]
Current cabinet
The Barisan Nasional party won the general election to the 13th Malaysian Parliament on 5 May 2013, and formed the government. A new Cabinet was announced by Prime Minister Mohd. Najib Abdul Razak on 15 May 2013.[6] The ministers and deputy ministers were then sworn in before King Abdul Halim on the following day.[7] Notably, the two main ethnic Chinese-majority parties in Barisan Nasional, the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) and Gerakan declined to join the cabinet due to their dismal performance in the election.[8]
On 25 June 2014, Prime Minister Najib Razak announced a cabinet reshuffle, which saw the return of the MCA and Gerakan to the cabinet.[9]
Full members
Also attending
| Portfolio | Office Bearer | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinet Secretary Assistant Cabinet Secretary |
Dr. Ali Hamsa Mazidah Abdul Majid |
Independent Independent |
Deputy ministers
See also
References
- ↑ Hj. Mohd Jali, Nazaruddin, Redzuan, Ma'arof, Abu Samah, Asnarulkhadi & Hj. Mohd Rashid, Ismail (2003). Malaysian Studies: Nationhood and Citizenship, p. 73. Pearson Malaysia. ISBN 983-2473-91-8.
- ↑ Funston, John (2001). "Malaysia: Developmental State Challenged". In John Funston (Ed.), Government and Politics in Southeast Asia, pp. 173–175. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.
- ↑ "Cabinet now to meet Fridays for ministers to attend parliament". The Malaysian Insider. 9 April 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2008.
- ↑ Wu, Min Aun & Hickling, R. H. (2003). Hickling's Malaysian Public Law, pp. 84–85. Petaling Jaya: Pearson Malaysia. ISBN 983-74-2518-0.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Wu & Hickling, p. 86.
- ↑ "Barisan Kabinet Kerajaan Malaysia 2013". Official Website of Prime Minister's Office of Malaysia (in Malay). Prime Minister's Department, Malaysia. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
- ↑ New Cabinet today, oath tomorrow
- ↑ "Reconsider decision on refusal to join cabinet, MCA, Gerakan told". New Strait Times (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia). 2013-05-11. Retrieved 2014-10-01.
- ↑
- ↑ His appointment as the Minister is valid upon his admission to the Senate on 5 June 2013.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "Tiong Lai, Siew Kiong dan Ka Siong dilantik menteri penuh - Najib". Berita Harian. 25 June 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
External links
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